Press
ArtWorks plans to give schools grantsJanuary 21, 2008
Daily News Bowling Green, Ky
Jim Gaines
Local artists’ group ArtWorks plans to give grants to schools in Warren and surrounding counties, teaching aspiring artists about exhibiting their work.
The Young Artist Grant Program is still in its earliest stages, ArtWorks chairman Donnie Firkins said.
The group is not quite ready to contact schools yet – there’s still too much to be decided, but grants of perhaps $500 per school are contemplated, he said.
“I’m hoping that we’ll be able to do maybe five a year,” Firkins said.
Grants will be available to art programs in middle through high schools, the ArtWorks board decided Jan. 7. It will be supervised by ArtWorks’ communications chairwoman Lynn O’Keefe.
Area teachers can make grant requests through April 30, and then from July 1 through the following April 30. In return, they must agree to produce a student exhibit in the next year.
The money is meant not just to buy supplies, but to teach young artists about how to plan and conduct exhibits, Firkins said.
ArtWorks members, who just came together last year, are already talking about how to perpetuate local interest in the arts for the next generation, he said. This grant program is a first step in handing that torch to others, by investing in young artists, Firkins said.
Established local artists want not only to give money to young exhibitors, but to work with school art teachers to identify and encourage talented young artists, he said. Many local artists – including himself – look back upon particular art teachers or artists as mentors, and they hope to provide that to artists in school now, Firkins said.
The first fundraising event that will contribute to the program is a black-tie-optional exhibit coming soon at The Gallery at 916, Firkins said. Once the program gets going, the group hopes that local businesses and perhaps the school system will provide matching funds, he said.
Copyright 2008 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)
Reprinted with permission from Jim Gaines
ArtWorks In The News
October 2, 2007
Daily News Bowling Green, Ky
by Jim Gaines
Artworks, the visual artists' coalition formed three months ago, plans to support its members through a grant program for works they hope will go on public display, according to discussion at the group's monthly meeting on Monday.
About 20 people gathered at the L&N Depot, and Chairman Donnie Firkins, a local sculptor, said he'd communicate the results to at least 10 others who couldn't attend.
The tentative plan is for the group to fund grants through grants it receives, donations and pledges; and award those grants to fund members' projects as selected by a jury of non-members, Firkins said.
It's hoped that the
resulting pieces will be bought for public display, at which point 25
percent of the sale price would go to the artist, with the other 75
percent going back to the grant fund.
The
group is working on securing nonprofit status, designing a logo and a
Web site. Members approved a vision statement Monday which
explicitly calls for aiding artists with grants as part of giving the
field, in general, more visibility.
Artworks meets at 5:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month at the Depot.
Reprinted with permission from Jim Gaines
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 Claude Robertson | |
